When God Speaks: Remembering Who He Is

A Reflection on God’s Response to Job

The Book of Job confronts us with one of the most difficult realities of life: faithful people still suffer. Job is described as blameless and upright, yet he experiences profound loss—his possessions, his children, his health, and the comfort of human understanding. Throughout much of the book, Job cries out for answers. He does not deny God, but he does question Him, longing to understand why such suffering has come upon him. Can you relate? I know I have had seasons of my life in which I questioned God and wanted to know why? In my mind, I know God's plans are better than mine, but in my heart I have struggled to accept His plans over mine. Job sets the example of how to question God, but not to curse Him or doubt His character.

When God finally responds, His answer is not what Job—or we—might expect.

Rather than explaining the reasons behind Job’s suffering, God reminds Job of who He is.

Beginning in Job 38, the Lord speaks out of the whirlwind and asks a series of questions that span creation itself. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” God asks. He points to the boundaries of the sea, the storehouses of snow, the paths of the stars, and the instincts of animals. With each question, God draws Job’s attention away from his pain and toward God’s unmatched power, wisdom, and authority over all things. WOW! I know I could save myself a lot of misery by reflecting on God's sovereignty and goodness in spite of my circumstances.

God’s response is neither harsh nor dismissive; it is corrective and deeply loving. Job had begun to evaluate God’s actions through a human lens, assuming that full understanding was something he was owed. In response, God gently yet firmly reminds him of the vast difference between the Creator and the created. Job did not need every answer—he needed to remember who God is.

We see this same truth in the Garden of Eden. God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, not to withhold good from them, but to protect them from the burden of knowing evil. Yet they disobeyed, believing they knew better. In a similar way, Job believed that knowing “why” would bring relief, but God knew it was not necessary. What Job needed most was trust—confidence in God’s wisdom and goodness, even without full understanding.

This moment marks a turning point in the story. Job’s perspective shifts. In humility, he responds, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). Job realizes that his suffering did not mean God was absent, unjust, or powerless. It meant that God was at work in ways beyond Job’s comprehension.

For us, this is a powerful reminder. When life brings pain, confusion, or unanswered prayers, our greatest need is not always an explanation—it is a clearer view of God. The Book of Job teaches us that God is sovereign, wise, and good, even when His ways remain hidden. He is not diminished by our questions, but He lovingly calls us to trust His character rather than demand His reasons.

God’s response to Job invites us to shift our focus from “Why is this happening?” to “Who is God?” When we remember who He is—Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign Lord—we find peace not in knowing all the answers, but in knowing Him.

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